Abstract
The solar energy input into the very high southern latitudes determines the maximum productivity level that could have been achièyed by Antarctic ecosystems in the geological past when there was not a major glaciation. The input of energy must supply all that is needed the primary producers (the green plants) to carry out photosynthesis.Finally, the carnivorous animals feed either on the herbivorous ones or on other carnivorous ones. Parasites feed either on living plants or animals and scavengers feed on the latter2019s dead remains. Every organism in the ecosystem is thus dependent on the energy input either directly or indirectly. The solar input of about 3500 megajoules/m2/yr (Farman and Hamilton 1987; LaGrange 1963) for high latitudes in Antartica will determine for the continent a temperature ecosystem.
Keywords
- Ring Width
- Growth Ring
- Fossil Wood
- High Southern Latitude
- Solar Input
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
Buying options
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Assmann E (1970) The Principles of Forest Yield Study. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Bazilevich NI, Drozdov AV, and Rodin LE (1971) World forest productivity. InDuvigneaud P (ed) Productivity of Forest Ecosystems. UNESCO, Paris: 345–353
Creber GT (1986) Tree growth at very high latitudes in the Permian and Mesozoic. Colloque International sur l’Arbre. Naturalia Monspeliensa: 487–493
Creber GT and Chaloner WG (1984a) Climatic indications from growth rings in fossil woods. InBrenchley PJ (ed) Fossils and Climate. Wiley, Chichester: 49–74
Creber GT and Chaloner WG (1984b) Influence of environmental factors on the wood structure of living and fossil trees. Botanical Review 50:357–448
Creber GT and Chaloner WG (1985) Tree growth in the Mesozoic and early Tertiary and the reconstruction of palaeoclimates. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 52: 35–60
Creber GT and Chaloner WG (1987) The contribution of growth rings to the reconstruction of past climates. InWard RG (ed) Application of Tree-Ring Studies: Current Research in Dendrochronology and Related Areas. British Archaeological Reports, International Series 333: 37–67
Creber GT and Francis JE (1987) Productivity in fossil forests. InJacoby GC (ed) Proceedings of the International Symposium on Ecological Aspects of Tree-Ring Analysis. Department of Energy, Carbon Dioxide Research Division, Washington, D.C.: 319–326
Doumani GA and Long WE (1962) The ancient life of the Antarctic. Scientific American 207(3): 168- 184
Farman JC and Hamilton RA (1978) Measurements of radiation at the Argentine Islands and Halley Bay, 1963-1972. British Antarctic Survey Scientific Report No. 99
Forrest WG and Ovington JD (1970) Organic matter changes in an age series Pinus radiataplantation. Journal of Applied Ecology 7: 177–186
Francis JE (1986) Growth rings in Cretaceous and Tertiary wood from Antarctica and their palaeoclimatic implications. Palaeontology 29: 665–684
Gregory RA and Wilson BF (1968) A comparison of cambial activity of white spruce in Alaska and New England. Canadian Journal of Botany 58: 687–692
Hamilton GJ and Christie JM (1971) Forest management tables (metric). Forestry Commission, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London
Jahnke LS and Lawrence DB (1965) Influence of photosynthetic crown structure on potential productivity of vegetation, based primarily on mathematical models. Ecology 46: 319–326
Jefferson TH (1982) Fossil forests from the Lower Cretaceous of Alexander Island, Antarctica. Palaeontology 25: 681–708
Jordan CF (1971) Productivity of a tropical forest and its relation to a world pattern of energy storage. Journal of Ecology 59: 127–143
Kanninen M, Hari P, and Kellomaki S (1982) A dynamic model for above-ground growth and dry matter production in a forest community. Journal of Applied Ecology 19: 465–476
LaGrange J J (1963) Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1955-58 Scientific Report No. 13. Meteorology I. Shackleton, South ice and the Journey across Antarctica. Transantarctic Expedition Committee
Larson PR (1964) Contribution of different aged needles to growth and wood formation of young red pines. Forest Science 10: 224–238
Maheshwari HK (1972) Permian wood from Antarctica and revision of some Lower Gondwana woods. Palaeontographica B, 138: 1–43
Monteith JL (1973) Principles of Environmental Physics. Edward Arnold, London
Mooney HA, Billings WD and Brayton R (1966) Field measurements of the metabolic responses of bristle cone pine and big sagebrush in the White Mountains. Botanical Gazette 127: 105–113
Ovington JD (1961) Some aspects of energy flow in plantations of Pinus sylvestris. Annals of Botany 25: 12–20
Vaartaja O (1959) Evidence of photoperiodic eco- types in trees. Ecological Monographs 29: 91–111
Vaartaja O (1962) Ecotypic variation in photoperiodism of trees with special reference to Pinus resinosaand Thuja occidental’s. Canadian Journal of Botany 40: 849–856
Whittaker RH (1966) Forest dimensions and productivity in the Great Smokey Mountains. Ecology 47: 102–121
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Creber, G.T. (1990). The South Polar Forest Ecosystem. In: Taylor, T.N., Taylor, E.L. (eds) Antarctic Paleobiology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3238-4_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3238-4_4
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7929-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3238-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive